Tell me the different types of tests conducted in performance testing.

Performance testing encompasses several specialized tests, each focusing on a different aspect of system behavior under load:

1. Load Testing – verifies that the system can handle expected user loads and measures response times and resource utilization.
2. Stress Testing – pushes the system beyond its normal capacity to identify breaking points and how it recovers.
3. Spike Testing – introduces sudden, large increases in load to observe system stability and response.
4. Endurance (Soak) Testing – runs the system under normal load for an extended period to detect memory leaks or performance degradation.
5. Volume Testing – tests the system’s ability to handle large amounts of data or transactions.
6. Scalability Testing – evaluates how well the system scales horizontally or vertically when resources are added.
7. Availability Testing – ensures the system remains operational during peak usage or after failures.
8. Configuration Testing – checks performance across different hardware, software, or network configurations.
9. Recovery Testing – verifies that the system can recover from crashes or failures within acceptable time limits.

Each type provides insights into specific performance characteristics, helping teams optimize and ensure reliability.